Water jet boat with steerable front and rear outlet nozzles



April 6, 1965 M. CAVERO 3,176,643

WATER JET BOAT WITH STEERABLE FRONT AND REAR OUTLET NOZZLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1964 Manuel Cal/era IN VENTOR.

April 6, 1965 M. CAVERO 3,176,648

WATER JET BOAT WITH STEERABLE FRONT AND REAR OUTLET NOZZLES Filed March 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Slam Dix Servo (Sta army) Fig 2 agnall'c l2 Elect/0m Manuel Cavera Bow 0/: Servo {Steer/1157) United States Patent-()fi ice 3,176,648 Patented Apr. 6, 19%5 3,176,648 WATER JET BOAT WITH tsTEERABLE FRONT AND REAR OUTLET NOZZLES Manuel Cavern, 151-3 Russ St, San Francisco, Calif. Filed Mar. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 351,058 lit Claims. (Cl. 115-12) This invention relates to a novel and useful Water jet boat with steerable front and rear outlet nozzles and more specifically to a boat hull construction including a novel means of propulsion and steering.

The water jet propulsion and steering assembly of the instant invention is designed for use on conventional boat hulls of the displacement type and of the type normally utilized in the construction of surface craft. However, the propulsion and steering assembly of the instant invention is also particularly well adapted for use with submersible hull constructions and may therefore also be utilized effectively to propel and steer a submarine. In addition, the propulsion and steering assembly of the instant invention also includes means whereby an upward thrust may be effected on either the rear or forward end portion of a hull construction thereby further adapting the propulsion and steering assembly to be utilized effectively in the construction of a submarine.

The main object of this invention is to provide a novel propulsion and steering assembly for boat hulls including means by which a boat hull equipped with the assembly of the instant invention may be made to turn a complete circle within its own length.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a propulsion and steering assembly including means by which a boat hull may be moved laterally through the water.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a propulsion and steering assembly in accordance with the two preceding objects including means by which a hull constructed in accordance with the present invention may be moved obliquely through the water.

Another object of this invention is to provide a water jet propulsion and steering assembly for boat hulls including means by which the steering and propulsion of the boat hull may be readily controlled by relatively simple and remotely operable control means.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a water jet boat with steerable front and rear outlet nozzles constructed in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to hire parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a submarine hull utilizing the water jet propulsion and steering assembly of the instant invention;

FEGURE 2 is a fragmentary schematic view in perspective of the water jet propulsion and steeringassembly of the instant invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through a section of the rear portion of the water jet propulsion and steering assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURES 5-7 are fragmentary horizontal sectional views of the rear selector valve of the water jet propulsion and steering assembly shown with the rotary member of the valve in three separate positions of operation, each different from the position of operation of the rear selector valve illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral is generally designates asubmarine hull. The water jet propulsion'and steering assembly of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 12 and includes water pump means 14 including an inlet 16 and an outlet 18. A conduit 20 extends from the inlet to to the starboard side of the hull l9 and opens outwardly thereof as at 22.

The water pump 14 includes an input shaft 24 to which the output shaft 26 of a prime mover 28 is drivingly coupled by means of clutch means 3% in the form of an electromagnetic clutch.

A selector valve assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 32 is provided'and includes an inlet 34 with which the outlet 18 is communicated. The selector valve 32 includes a pair of outlets 36 and 38 each individually selectively communicable with the inlet 34 of the selector valve 32 by means of an associated gate valve member 44} including an electromagnetic actuator 42. A rear conduit 44 extends from the outlet 36 to the inlet 2-5 of a rear control valve generally referred to by the reference numeral 48 and including first and second outlets 55? and 52. A'conduit 54 extends from the outlet 3?, to the inlet 56 of a'forward control valve generally referred to by the reference numeral 53 which is substantially identical to the control valve 48 and includes a pair of outlets corresponding to the outlets 5t) and 52.

The control valves 45 and 53 include rotatable valve members 6% which may be rotated between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 3-7 of the drawings for terminating communication of both of the outlets 5t} and 52 with the inlet 46 as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, for communicating only the outlet 50 with the inlet 46 as shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, for communicating only the outlet 52 with the inlet as as shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, and for communicating both the outlets 5i} and 52. with the inlet 46 as shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings.

The outlet 52 has a downwardly opening nozzle 62 communicated therewith and the outlet 54? has an upwardly curving inlet portion 64 of an outlet nozzle communicated therewith. The outlet portion 66 of the outlet nozzle 68 communicated with the outlet St) is rotatably supported from the inlet portion 64 by means of a water seal and bearing assembly 70 of any conventional design. The outlet portion 65 of the nozzle 68 is disposed outwardly of the hull ill and includes a shank portion 71 which projects upwardly through the hull it) in sealed relation therewith by means of a water seal '72. The upper end of the shank portion 71 has a gear wheel 73 mounted thereon and a rack gear 74 carried by the armature 76 of a servo-motor 78 supported from the hull it) is engaged with the gear wheel 73. In addition, the valve member 6%) includes a shank portion 86 having a gear wheel 82 mounted thereon with which a rack gear 34 carried by the armature 86 of a servo-motor S5 is engagfd, the servo-motor 88 also being supported from the hu it).

It is to be noted that the downwardly opening nozzle 90 at the forward end of the hull 10 corresponds to the nozzle 62 and that the articulated nozzle 92 at the forward end of the hull 10 corresponds to the nozzle .68,a forward servo-motor 94 being operatively engaged with the outlet portion of the nozzle 92 for rotating it about its axis of rotation and a servo-motor 96 corresponding to the servomotor 88 being drivingly connected to the stem 98 of the control valve 58 and corresponding to the servo-motor 78.

anaesa If it is desired, a pair of motors 23, clutches 30 and water pumps 14 may be utilized with the outlets of the pair of water pumps being communicated with the conduits 44 and 54 by means of single selector valves each including a gate valve member corresponding to the gate valve members 40.

In operation, when it is desired to move the hull 10 forwardly through the Water, the left hand gate valve member 40 may be closed and the valve member 60 may be rotated to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings whereupon the discharge from the pump 14 will be communicated only with the outlet nozzle 68. The outlet section 66 of the nozzle 68 may be rotated as desired to steer the submarine hull while the latter is being propelled in a forward direction.

In the event it is desired to cause the submarine hull 10 to dive, the valve member 60 of the rear control valve 48 may be rotated to the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings.

On the other hand, should it be desirable to cause the I hull 10 to move rearwardly, the right hand gate valve member will be closed and the left hand gate valve member 40 will be opened whereupon the control valve 58 may then be caused to communicate the conduit 54 with the outlet nozzle 92, the latter being steerable by means of the servo-motor 94. In addition, the control valve 58 may also be caused to communicate both the outlet nozzle 90 and the outlet nozzle 92 with the conduit 54 whereupon it will be possible to cause the submarine hull 10 to dive in reverse.

Further, it will be noted that both the outlet nozzles 68 and 92 may be simultaneously communicated with the outlet 18 of the pump '14. In this instance, when the outlet nozzles 68 and 92 open toward opposite sides of the hull 10, the submarine hull 10 may be caused to turn very sharply. Still further, with both the outlet nozzles 68 and 92 opening toward the same side of the hull, the hull 10-may be caused to move laterally through the water. Still further, the control valves 48 and 58 may be actuated so as to communicate only the nozzles 62 and 90 with the outlet of the pump 14 whereupon the hull 10 may be caused to rise without any appreciable forward or rearward movement.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges. will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A water jet boat with steerable front and rear outlet nozzles comprising a hull, water pump means in said hull including water intake means opening outwardly through said hull and Water outlet means, motor means, clutch means releasably drivingly coupling said motor means to said pump means, first and second conduits communicated at one pair of ends with said water outlet means, front and rear pairs of first and second outlet nozzles, each of said first outlet nozzles including an inlet end and a downwardly opening outlet end, each of said second nozzles including an inlet end and an outlet end, said second nozzle outlet ends being articulated and pivotable about a verticle axis with the front and rear second nozzle outlet ends opening forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, and belng selectively swingable to positions opening outwardly to either side of said hull, first and second control valve means communicating the other pair of ends of said first and second conduits with the inlet ends of said front and rear pairs of outlet nozzles respectively, said control valve means including means for selectively communicating each of the first and second conduits with the fisrt and second nozzles of the corresponding pair of nozzles.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first and second control valve means each also includes means for simultaneously communicating the corresponding conduit with the associated first and second nozzles.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hull comprises the hull of a submarine.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pump means includes a single water outlet with which said conduits are communicated.

5. The combination of claim 1 including actuator means for each of said valve means adapted to .be controlled from a remote location.

6. The combination of claim 1 including first and second control motor means operatively connected with the outlet ends of said front and rear second nozzles respectively for adjustably swinging the outlet ends of said nozzles about their axes of rotation.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said water jet boat includes selector valve means for communicating said conduits with said water outlet and operable to selectively communicate each of said conduits with said water outlet.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said selector valve means also includes means for simultaneously communicating both of said conduits with said Water outlet.

9. A water jet boat with steerable front and rear outlet nozzles comprising a hull, water pump means in said hull including water intake means opening outwardly through said hull and water outlet means, motor means drivingly coupled to said pump means, first and second conduits communicated at one pair of ends with said water outlet means, front and rear pairs of first and second outlet nozzles, each of said first outlet nozzles including an inlet end and a downwardly opening outlet. end, said second nozzle outlet ends being articulated and pivotable about a vertical axis with the front and rear second nozzle outlet ends opening forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, and being selectively swingable to positions opening outwardly to either side of saidhull, first and second control valve means communicating the other pair of ends of said first and second conduits with the inlet ends of said front and rear pairs of outlet nozzles respectively, said control valve means including means for selectively communicating each of the first and second conduits with the first and second nozzles of the corresponding pair of nozzles.

10. A water jet boat with steerable front and rear outlet nozzles comprising a hull, water pump means in said hull including water intake means opening outwardly through said hull and water outlet means, motor means drivingly coupled to said pump means, first and second conduits communicated at one pair of ends with said water outlet means, front and rear pairs of first and second outlet nozzles, each of said first nozzles including an inlet end and a substantially vertically opening outlet end, each of said second nozzles including an inlet end and an outlet end, said second nozzle outlet ends being articulated and pivotable about a vertical axis with the front and rear second nozzle outlet ends opening forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, and being selectively swingable to positions opening outwardly to either side of said hull, first and second control valve means communicating the other pair of ends of said first and second conduits with the inlet ends of said front and rear pairs of outlet nozzles respectively, said control valve means including means for selectively communicating each of the first and second conduits with the first and second nozzles of the corresponding pair of nozzles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,205 4/12 Jensen -14 2,276,193 3/42 Hanley 115l4 3,103,195 9/63 Cousteau et a1 1l5-14 X 3,122,121 2/64 Krauth 1l5l2 FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner. 

10. A WATER JET BOAT WITH STEERABLE FRONT AND REAR OUTLET NOZZLES COMPRISING A HULL, WATER PUMP MEANS IN SAID HULL INCLUDING WATER INTAKE MEANS OPENING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID HULL AND WATER OUTLET MEANS, MOTOR MEANS DRIVINGLY COUPLED TO SAID PUMP MEANS, FIRST AND SECOND CONDUITS COMMUNICATED AT ONE PAIR OF ENDS WITH SAID WATER OUTLETS MEANS, FRONT AND REAR PAIRS OF FIRST AND SECAND OUTLET NOZZLES, EACH OF SAID FIRST NOZZLES INCLUDING AN INLET END AND A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY OPENING OUTLET END, EACH OF SAID SECOND NOZZLES INCLUDING AN INLET END AND AN OUTLET END, SAID SECOND NOZZLE OUTLET ENDS BEING ARTICULATED AND PIVOTABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS WITH THE FRONT AND REAR SECOND NOZZLE OUTLET ENDS OPENING FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY, RESPECTIVELY, AND BEING SELECTIVELY SWINGABLE TO POSITIONS OPENING OUTWARDLY TO EITHER SIDE OF SAID HULL, FIRST AND SECOND CONTROL VALVE MEANS COMMUNICATING THE OTHER PAIR OF ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONDUITS WITH THE INLET ENDS OF SAID FRONT AND REAR PAIRS OF OUTLET NOZZLES RESPECTIVELY, SAID CONTROL VALVE MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY COMMUNICATING EACH OF THE FIRST AND SECOND CONDUITS WITH THE FIRST AND SECOND NOZZLES OF THE CORRESPONDING PAIR OF NOZZLES. 